Talks to set up childcare centres in state schools are expected to start soon, Family and Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina said yesterday. It will be a joint initiative between her ministry and the Education Ministry.
The minister was speaking at the launch of the third annual report of the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE).
Mrs Cristina said talks have already been held between the two ministries and the Department of Standards, as the regulator, will be formulating the rules and regulations.
“It was useless to set up the law without the proper facilities in place. Schools are the ideal setting for childcare centres,” she said.
“There are fewer children in schools and children will be able to play in open spaces which are still safe,” explained the minister.
Although no schools have been identified, Minister Cristina said the centres will be opened in areas where these facilities are needed.
Mrs Cristina praised the work carried out by the NCPE last year and said that it still needs to create more awareness about its role and activities.
“The NCPE did a lot of work behind the scenes but unfortunately the public is not aware of all its hard work,” she said.
A number of family-friendly measures were among the changes brought about by the commission, however, Mrs Cristina said that changes need to come from below as well as from above.
“Family-friendly policies were recently introduced in the public sector. However before they could be properly implemented, a certain amount of resistance from both sexes had to be overcome,” she said.
Furthermore, she added, there needs to be greater emphasis on work ethics.
“It is useless introducing family-friendly measures if the workers do not adapt accordingly.”
Gender mainstreaming also needs to be introduced at all levels: policy, work, law and mentality, said Mrs Cristina.
During the conference, Prof. Charles Farrugia, chairman of the Maltese National Commission for UNESCO, presented the NCPE with a cheque for $20,000 (Lm6,778) for research purposes.
Prof. Farrugia collaborated last year with the NCPE on a UNESCO project entitled “The Gender Gap in Science and Technology in Malta: evaluating the problem and tackling the issues”.
NCPE executive director Sina Bugeja said the commission received 37 new complaints last year.
However, this number does not reflect the extent of gender discrimination in Malta.
“There are many individuals who inquire about the procedures to file a complaint but do not do so officially because of fear of victimisation or lack of empowerment,” said Mrs Bugeja.
“We are very concerned about this. The commission is not out on the warpath but simply being assertive,” she added. “In fact, we work closely with many entities and organisations to help improve the situation.”